Update: Flooding in Pakistan Affects Fairtrade Producers

05 August 2010

Though original reports stated that flooding in Pakistan had not affected Fairtrade producers, conditions have worsened for families in the Northern reaches of Pakistan according to recent information from Syed Amjad Ali Shah, the FLO liaison officer in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In the Baltistan region of Gilgit 52 people have died and a landslide in the Gizar area took 20 lives. The Gilgit area is home to a number of Fairtrade certified farmers.

"Gilgit is surrounded by the Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindukush mountains in Northeast Pakistan. The Karakoram Highway, the only road in the area, is blocked due to the destruction of three main bridges since July 28th. The road will remain closed until new bridges can be built. We have an acute shortage of food stuffs, fuel and power due to the destruction," said Sher Ghazi of Mountain Fruit, a group of Fairtrade-certified producers in Gilgit.

Since the flooding began in late July, millions of people throughout Pakistan have been displaced and more than 1,600 have died. In Rawalpindi, our liaison officer reports that floods had knocked out power for three days. Visits to Fairtrade producers in the Gilgit region will be delayed for the foreseeable future.

“The worst affected areas are in the North, but cities in the Southern regions are also being evacuated as anticipated flood waters begin to enter the Punjab province,” Ali Shah said.

Our sympathy goes out to the people of Pakistan who have been affected by this natural disaster. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of further developments.